Uncertain future for salamamders, other amphibians

Say hello to my little friend -- we’ll call him (or her) Sal, since he (or she) happens to be a salamander, more precisely a longtail salamander (that’s Eurycea longicauda longicauda to you Latin buffs). I uncovered little Sal last week while clearing away some backyard brush, a discovery that brought back fond childhood memories of so many lazy, joyful summer days spent exploring the local woods and waters in search of wildlife treasures. These included critters like crayfish, bullfrogs, box turtles, and garter snakes. But near the top of the list were the ol’ reliable salamanders so faithfully found huddled in the damp earth beneath overturned rocks and logs, lethargic creatures not quick or agile enough to escape the darting fingers of a fascinated nine-year-old.

Not surprisingly, I discovered Sal when I lifted an old, vine-covered, rotting board in the backyard. He (or she?) was about four inches long and colored bright yellow with dark spots. Typical of this variety, Sal’s tail was much longer than her general body. This species of salamander is usually yellow to bright red-orange and marked with contrasting black spots. And then of course, there’s that elongated mouth on this amphibian’s face that seems to curl into a sly salamander smile stretching from ear to ear.

As a longtail variety, Sal is just one of Pennsylvania’s 22 species of salamanders representing five families and 11 genera. When I was a kid, most of the smiling salamanders I encountered were of the redback variety, not quite as impressive as the longtail, but probably more common here in Chester County.

The state agency charged with protecting and managing salamanders, as well as all other amphibians, reptiles, and, of course, fish, is the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC). Check the PFBC’s website, and you’ll find Sal’s nutshell profile.

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“There are seven different families of salamanders in North America. As a group, salamanders are secretive and nocturnal. All need moisture to survive. Their skin is smooth and must remain moist. Even the so-called terrestrial species can live only in areas that are moist or damp.”

The PFBC maintains very extensive regulations when it comes to these creatures. For example, although I set Sal free a few moments after completing my mini photo shoot, my possession of this particular salamander was totally legal since I own a current fishing license and, as the regulations published in the 2013 Pennsylvania Fishing Summary brochure state, there is no closed season on the longtail salamander with an established daily bag limit of one and a possession limit of one as well.

In case you’re wondering, these same regulations (no closed season, one per day) apply to most other species of salamanders, along with many frogs and toads like the Spring Peeper and the Eastern American Toad, snakes like the Eastern Garter Snake, and turtles like the Eastern Painted Turtle. There are a host of other reptiles and amphibians that also fall under these regulations. One exception is for collectors of amphibian eggs and tadpoles where there is no closed season and there is a daily limit of 15.

There’s also an extensive list of endangered and threatened amphibians and reptiles which are totally protected and with no open season allowed. Three salamanders make this list: Eastern Mud Salamander (endangered), Green Salamander (threatened), and Blue-spotted Salamander (endangered). Three species of endangered snakes also make this list as do four species of endangered frogs and toads. Three species of turtles, including the infamously endangered Bog Turtle, are also listed.

Actual hunting seasons on certain targeted species run from July 1 through October 31 and include bullfrogs and Northern Green Frogs with a daily limit of 10, combined species; snapping turtles with a daily limit of 15. Two species of poisonous snakes, the Timber Rattlesnake and the Northern Copperhead, have seasons that opened Saturday and run through July 31 with an annual limit of one each along with a host of other regulations that can be found on page 31 of the PFBC Regulation Digest.

Personally, I’ll leave poisonous snake hunts to the so-called experts and stick with the more finger-friendly, fangless salamander.

Unfortunately, but not surprisingly given all the pollutants we continue to dump into our air and water, Sal and her amphibian brethren find themselves in big trouble today. A recent study published in the scientific journal PLOS ONE indicates that populations of our amphibians – salamanders, frogs, and toads – continue to decline at an alarming rate. The decade-long study indicated that, in some cases, threatened species were disappearing from their habitats at an alarming rate of almost 12 percent each year. The study analyzed data from 39 sites and included 48 different species, but did not determine the causes of these population crashes.

However, evidence strongly suggests that manmade pollution, contaminants, disease, and drought are the primary culprits in what may portend an amphibian apocalypse in the not-too-distant future. That would be a tragedy of the first degree and, like that proverbial canary in the coal mine, might also forebode a catastrophic future for all of mankind. But beyond that, I’d still like to believe that, for many decades to come, our children and our children’s children will continue to roam our woods and waters in search of wildlife treasures and, in overturning a rotting log, might again discover one of Sal’s descendents, alive and well, slyly smiling back up at them.

West Chester Fish, Game, and Wildlife members will be joining with the Valley Forge chapter of Trout Unlimited for a picnic and night of fishing on the pond at their nursery on Ravine Rd. starting at 6:00 p.m. tonight. Come out and join these folks for a night of dinner, socializing, and fishing. Fishing is catch and release and licenses are required for fishing on the pond for all those 16 and over. Check with John Dettrey at 610-220-9147 for needed food items. And remember to bring a lawn chair!